Beaverton Education Foundation’s commitment to connecting our community with classrooms has remained steadfast during our 35-year history, but has been even more important during the pandemic. Over the past two years, BEF has made it a top priority to be quick and responsive to meet our students’ and teachers’ needs, while still advancing long-term BEF initiatives that drive educational innovation and equity.
In 2021-2022, BEF reached more than 32,547 students – that’s more than 83% of all Beaverton students. We worked directly with 265 educators, supporting 112 programs and classroom projects at all 54 Beaverton schools. We use a proven model that supports educational innovation and empowers bottom-up transformation by turning educators’ ideas into powerful solutions to benefit thousands of students.
Thanks to generous donors, last year we invested $358,060 to:
- Rebuild students’ connections with school after remote learning through after school programs that combine academics with sports, arts and music – helping 1,000 middle school students across 11 middle schools
- Help our youngest learners stay connected to school and rediscover a love of learning through summer programs for 4,100 elementary school students
- Introduce middle school students to opportunities that inspire them to stay in school by training for high-paying careers in manufacturing, construction trades and auto tech
- Support innovative classroom projects and after school activities that integrate hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) project-based learning
- Make the arts came alive through programmatic support for band, choir and the fine and performing arts
- Empower educators’ innovative classroom projects, ranging from outdoor classrooms to 3D printing
- Provide specialized resources for specific populations including devices for special education students to communicate and wellness rooms to support high school students’ behavioral health
- Replenish much-needed classroom supplies
What’s Next?
Beyond our Cornerstone Programs and Classroom Innovation Grants, BEF is launching new initiatives to meet emerging needs. We are piloting and testing new approaches to grow the most promising and effective programs and projects to serve more schools and more students. Look for news to come about these emerging initiatives:
- PE & Play: promoting movement and exercise during the school day – focusing first on filling gaps at middle and elementary schools that lack key PE and recess equipment
- Health Literacy: equipping our 23 school nurses, spread across the 54 schools, with supplies and tools to more effectively help students and teach their families about health issues
- Traveling Chemistry Library: helping high school students across the District complete virtual coursework